CHEMISTRY OF CREATINE

1. CHEMISTRY OF CREATINE By Elek Miller and Christian Resseguie (And, Of Course, “The Terminator”)

2. What IS Creatine?? • It is a naturally occurring substance in the human body • It is also a LEGAL supplement taken to enhance anaerobic performance • The supplement comes in the form of a white, odorless, crystalline powder (Pure or contained in capsules)

3. What Does Creatine Do? • Provides additional energy for your muscles • Adds volume to the body’s musculature • Buffers Lactic Acid buildup • Enhances the body’s protein synthesis

4. Why Is Creatine Attractive To Athletes ? • It increases the porosity of muscles, allowing them to absorb more water • Reduces pain caused by excessive training • Creatine can help the body produce ATP energy

5. What Is The Chemistry Of Creatine? • Chemical Name: methyl guanidine-acetic acid • Common Name: Creatine monohydrate • Creatine is made up of 3 amino acids: Arginine, Glycine, and Methionine

6. The Storage of Creatine • An average person (around 160 lbs.) has 120 grams of NATURAL Creatine in their body • 95-98% of the body’s Creatine is stored in the muscles. 2-5% is stored in the brain, heart, and testes • The amount of natural Creatine contained in an individuals body is proportional to their weight

7. THE CONTROVERSEY SURROUNDING CREATINE USE What IS The Discussion All About?

8. Main Topics • Is Creatine safe to use over a long period of time? • If any exist, what are the harmful side effects of Creatine use? • Should Creatine remain a legal, unregulated sports supplement?

9. Pro-Creatine Compared to other sports supplements, Creatine is fairly safe Creatine can be fairly effective (Individuals reported to gain as much as 20 lbs. In 6 weeks) Anti-Creatine Creatine may cause cancer Creatine only works for individuals who do not naturally produce enough Other ill-effects unknown but possible As with other chemicals, overdosing on Creatine is dangerous Contributes to unnatural athletic ability in organized sports The Arguments

10. What Is Our Opinion? • Do not use for athletic competition • If you are planning on using Creatine, first consult a doctor for the latest medical info • If you already use Creatine, pay attention to your health and examine yourself closely for side-effects • Use only the recommended dosage of Creatine for your body weight

11. Proper Usage Of Creatine • Read all labels and instructions that come with your brand of Creatine • Drink lots of water while using Creatine • In fact, mix Creatine with water when ingesting • Use powdered Creatine instead of Creatine capsules • Do not ingest caffeine or citrus while using Creatine

12. Proper Dosage Of Creatine Monohydrate • Creatine use is separated into two phases: Loading and Maintenance • Loading Phase: 1-4 days into Creatine use • Maintenance Phase: 5+ days after start of Creatine use • To get maximum results, ingest large doses of Creatine during the loading phase and smaller doses during the maintenance phase

13. Conclusion • At present, Creatine remains an effective legal strength supplement • Ill effects of Creatine use are not clearly known • However, scientists continue to intensely research the chemistry of Creatine • Who knows what they will find?

14. THE END HASTA LA VISTA, BABY!